Core 2 Duo MacBooks Announced

[Cams]

Yay, the waiting has paid off. Now I can get my first ever Mac! I'm probably gonna max out the blackbook, although Multimedia's post about the Tosh drive has me wondering about going stock HDD and upgrading down the road with a third party drive. How would that affect the Apple Care warranty though?

And a curious question as I didn't see it mentioned in any of the five or so pages of threads I read through - is it likely that this will run cooler than the Core Duo version?

Getting itchy now - order online or hit the store on the weekend? Either way, there will be a wait as I'm going for English KB and OS (standard is Belgian French here).

This is exciting!

 

[Gosh]

So - just the Mac mini to go 64bit then!

Quite an achievement not only to convert computer range to Intel but then arrive at start of the holiday shopping season with almost all 2nd generation Core 2 Duo.

Well done Apple!

 

[Multimedia]

Buy Apple's 2GB Upgrade • Do NOT Buy Any HD Upgrade

Yay, the waiting has paid off. Now I can get my first ever Mac! I'm probably gonna max out the blackbook, although Multimedia's post about the Tosh drive has me wondering about going stock HDD and upgrading down the road with a third party drive. How would that affect the Apple Care warranty though?

And a curious question as I didn't see it mentioned in any of the five or so pages of threads I read through - is it likely that this will run cooler than the Core Duo version?

Getting itchy now - order online or hit the store on the weekend? Either way, there will be a wait as I'm going for English KB and OS (standard is Belgian French here).

This is exciting!

1. DO NOT pay for a bigger HD that is less expensive afterwards. Your warranty will not be voided if you buy one from a third party and put it in yourself. This is the big advantage of the MacBook - the easy access HD Bay. When you buy the bigger HD, also buy an external FW/USB2 SATA Case for the 80/120 stock HD you take out of your MB when you put in a 160 or 200 after you get it. 250 PMR's are coming next year as well - still in the 9.5mm height that will fit.

2. DO buy the Apple 2GB RAM upgrade. Would cost more later and runs much faster with 2GB of RAM inside.

3. We'll need to see the vents in this new MB before we can tell how much cooler or hotter it will run. It SHOULD run cooler since it SHOULD have a new vent system like the C2D MBP has.

 

[andrewface]

that burner looks good
are they still hot as hell?

 

[ChrisB88]

So, not only did I purchase the new BlackBook, but they had a ton in stock at my local Seattle Apple Store! (U-Village).

Unfortunately, I'm going through charging cycles for the next 12-24 hours and can't use it yet. (is this really necessary??????)


-Chris (PC, switched to MAC on 11/8/06!)

 

[isoS]

Finally!

I've been waiting for this since August!

Quick question (sorry if it's been addressed already): anyone know how quickly Amazon typically adds new Macs to their store? The new MBs aren't showing up yet. I like ordering from them (no tax, free shipping), but I've waited so long now I don't know if I can hold out much longer! Then there's the whole rebate thing, which I'm sure they won't offer until after the holidays... Right? Anyone know how that works (ie. how long it takes for Amazon to start offering rebates on new Macs)?

 

[MrCrowbar]

So, not only did I purchase the new BlackBook, but they had a ton in stock at my local Seattle Apple Store! (U-Village).

Unfortunately, I'm going through charging cycles for the next 12-24 hours and can't use it yet. (is this really necessary??????)


-Chris (PC, switched to MAC on 11/8/06!)

Errr... you should use the Macbook on battery once it's 100% charged and use it until it goes to sleep, then wait about an hour and plug the power cable back in. That's it. Repeat the procedure every few months if you don't use the macbook on battery very much. No ned to do multiple cycles.

 

[mooks24]

Is it worth returning a Macbook purchased last week?

A friend of mine bought a Macbook last week with the education discount. We are hours away from the nearest store (although she might be driving by one on Saturday). Is it worth it for her to try to return it and replace it with the new one??? How would she do this?

I personally just ordered the new Macbook Pro, waiting since July . Thanks for your comments

 

[BlueRevolution]

I don't have the patience to read through 18 pages of "OMFG ONLY TEH 2 DUOZ", so excuse me if somebody pointed this out before.

Magnetic attraction
You’ll also find the following an attractive option. Opening and closing your MacBook is a snap, thanks to a magnetic latch that catches without a catch. That means no moving parts to snag, jam, or break.

That sounds new. The MBP uses the hidden catch system like the PowerBooks, but I wouldn't call it no moving parts. I think the 1G MB was the same.

 

[Warbrain]

Errr... you should use the Macbook on battery once it's 100% charged and use it until it goes to sleep, then wait about an hour and plug the power cable back in. That's it. Repeat the procedure every few months if you don't use the macbook on battery very much. No ned to do multiple cycles.

Once a month. Apple has an iCal event that reminds you to do so every month.

 

[ironjaw]

I could not agree more! That 13'' is just too bulky compared to the beautiful form factor of the best laptop ever made. That said.. mine is getting sloooower, I'll bump it up to 1.25Gb of RAM here soo, just waiting for prices to come down.

I'm not getting rid of this laptop anytime soon.

I just bought 1GB kingston ram for £70 off ebay for my 12" PB´- that'll keep my wallet sitting a while in my pocket untill spring next year or MWSF '07

 

[Chrispy]

I just got my C2D MacBook from the Apple store in Indianapolis. I went with the white 2.0 model. Checked it out in store and all seems to be great. I will give more details when I get home tonight and can play with it more They were actually still putting the new ones out on display when I went in to buy mine haha.

 

[ready2switch]

I don't have the patience to read through 18 pages of "OMFG ONLY TEH 2 DUOZ", so excuse me if somebody pointed this out before.

<insert invisible quote about magnetic latch here>

That sounds new. The MBP uses the hidden catch system like the PowerBooks, but I wouldn't call it no moving parts. I think the 1G MB was the same.

It was on the previous MacBook also.

 

[clintob]

A virtual dealbreaker for me: GMA 950.

Why is everyone so up-in-arms about the integrated graphics in the MB? It's over $1000 cheaper than the MBP. It's a consumer machine, not a pro machine. If you would even notice the difference between integrated and dedicated graphics, that means you need an MBP so pony up the money and get the better machine. And if you don't think that's true, you're confused.

 

[szsiddiq]

A friend of mine bought a Macbook last week with the education discount. We are hours away from the nearest store (although she might be driving by one on Saturday). Is it worth it for her to try to return it and replace it with the new one??? How would she do this?

I personally just ordered the new Macbook Pro, waiting since July . Thanks for your comments

its worth it, but they may charge u a 10% restocking fee...u may be able to talk ur way out of it if u play nice with the manager

 

[Warbrain]

I don't have the patience to read through 18 pages of "OMFG ONLY TEH 2 DUOZ", so excuse me if somebody pointed this out before.



That sounds new. The MBP uses the hidden catch system like the PowerBooks, but I wouldn't call it no moving parts. I think the 1G MB was the same.

Not new for the MacBooks and I'm sure that it's not on the MacBook Pros yet.

 

[Eidorian]

A virtual dealbreaker for me: GMA 950. Any CURRENT universal binary specs on performance for graphics software and games?

If you're looking at most consumer machines the GMA950 is STANDARD along with a few other integrated ATI/NVidia options for the AMD side. Even with a build to order option you're not getting a big leap with the 7300/X1300.

I REALLY think Apple should add a BTO option for dedicated graphics. It'd make the MacBook the best selling Mac.

 

[mrploddy]

It's turned out exactly as I thought. It was just a speed bump :/ I don't think people have really gained that much in terms of REAL WORLD performance waiting for Merom Macbooks over the original core 2 duo. If anything the things which would more affect performance than the merom processor is upping the ram to 2GB.

When I first got my macbook using photoshop was out of the question as it was just plain unusable let alone the thought of having 2 Adobe apps open at once. As soon as I whapped in 2GB's of RAM the macbook FLIES including Adobe apps and Parallels.

I have absolutely no regrets not waiting for buying my mid range 2.0Ghz macbook because
1) The clock speed is exactly the same - yeah it's a 64 bit processor but it's gonna take a good year or two up to the end of my Apple Care Agreement before ALL the apps can take full advantage of the 64 bit architecture of the Merom. Yeah 64 bit is nice to brag about but it really isn't gonna mean that much in the real world till Santa Rose is out and all the applications are full 64 bit. For example Adobe CS3 is gonna be Universal but is it gonna be 64 bit optimized?. Not till you see big ticket apps being 64 bit optimized will there be any real world performance gain.

2) RAM - It's only an extra 512MB, even if I'd waited I'd still have wasted the ram cos I'd have wanted the ram maxed out.

3) HDD - It's only an extra 20GB, 20GB these days means jack squat. 60GB is more than ample to have all your day to day apps on, itunes library and work, all the rest is on a travel 80GB hdd. It's not as though i'm gonna want to play games in the middle of a station.

What WOULD have made me annoyed

GRAPHICS card....

If there had been a dedicated graphics card in the new macbook I'd have been spitting feathers and regretting my purchase but there isn't so to me this is merely a keeping up with the Jone's speed bump.

The next time that Macbooks will REALLY be a worthwhile purchase is when you see them with Santa Rose logic boards as standard.

Till then my vote is save the $$$ on a Merom chip and go for the extra ram instead as you'd get a lot more bang for your buck and I'd put money that real world photoshop benchmarks and the like will prove that.


-mrploddy

 

[ironjaw]

because technology unlike religion changes... (Not to say it can't )

I like those religions where you can get *busy* with beautiful women...Thumps up for the Community argument

 

[Multimedia]

Definitely Return An Old MacBook Purchased Last Week

A friend of mine bought a Macbook last week with the education discount. We are hours away from the nearest store (although she might be driving by one on Saturday). Is it worth it for her to try to return it and replace it with the new one??? How would she do this?

I personally just ordered the new Macbook Pro, waiting since July . Thanks for your comments

It is way worth it.
1. 2GHz models have TWICE the shared L2 cache up to 4MB from 2MB.
2. Bigger 80GB HD. She can buy bigger later for less than from Apple.
3. Twice the RAM but should buy the 2GB upgrade for only $157 Ed.

Pack that puppy up with all the calatoral materials it came with, get in the car and GO NOW! If she has to wait 'til Saturday, phone the store now and tell them she will be returning it. Don't ask if she can. Tell them she will. And don't take NO for an answer.

Please pinpoint exactly what day she bought it. Only have 14 days. May have to take a 10% restocking fee hit but still worth it. And have her get the 2GB Upgrade when she buys the new one as well. Try to talk them out of the 10% restocking fee since she will be buying the 2GB upgrade for only $157 Ed - Total $1356 Ed.

Since you've been waiting since July, how come you were unable to get her to wait one more week?!

 

[cherrypop]

I wouldn't get the black. I had one, and it looked great fresh from the box, but looked old and tired 30 minutes later with grease marks all over it.

You might try washing your hands.

I've had a black MacBook for several months and do not have this problem. After a quick wipe down it looks brand new, with none of the scratching common with the white MB's.

 

[szsiddiq]

You might try washing your hands.

I've had a black MacBook for several months and do not have this problem. After a quick wipe down it looks brand new, with none of the scratching common with the white MB's.

my sentiments exactly

 

[Multimedia]

MacBook Is Already The Best Selling Mac Eidorian

If you're looking at most consumer machines the GMA950 is STANDARD along with a few other integrated ATI/NVidia options for the AMD side. Even with a build to order option you're not getting a big leap with the 7300/X1300.

I REALLY think Apple should add a BTO option for dedicated graphics. It'd make the MacBook the best selling Mac.

Earth to Eidorian. MacBook is already the best selling Mac.

 

[Warbrain]

You might try washing your hands.

I've had a black MacBook for several months and do not have this problem. After a quick wipe down it looks brand new, with none of the scratching common with the white MB's.

Yea, but the black also wears off over time. That problem has already occured with some MacBooks...

 

[drlunanerd]

You might try washing your hands.

I've had a black MacBook for several months and do not have this problem. After a quick wipe down it looks brand new, with none of the scratching common with the white MB's.

I have clean hands thanks.

You however must have a problem with your eyesight. The matte black finish picks up oil from normal clean hands and it shows, period. The paint can peel off too - I had 2 new units that were showing this already from small scratches. This is old news.

If you get a scratch on the black MacBook it can puncture the paint. It just isn't a durable finish. I wish this wasn't true but it is. The white MacBooks can also scratch, but there's no finish to rub or peel off. The gloss plastic can be polished with Brasso or suchlike if necessary - this cannot be done on the black.